Jet pipe fluid control

ABSTRACT

A jet pipe fluid control having a nozzle which is movable in more than one plane into alignment with any one of a cluster of input openings for a series of fluid passages leading to fluidactuated control valves. The valves control the flow of high pressure fluid to fluid motors which operate various loadhandling apparatus of an industrial lift truck. A control handle at the operator&#39;&#39;s station of the truck moves the jet pipe into alignment with the desired opening for remote actuation of a control valve.

United States Patent Olson et a1.

[4 1 June 20, 1972 [54] JET PIPE FLUID CONTROL Inventors: John E. Olson; Wayne W. Bostad; Norman L. Price, all of Portland, Oreg. Assignee: Hyster Company, Portland, Oreg.

Filed: June 11, 1969 Appl. No.: 832,212

Int. Cl .Q ..F15b 13/042, F15b 13/68 Field ofSearch ..251/3; 137/81.5,82, 83,84, 137/6252, 625.42, 625.68; 91/3, 461, 411, 413,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1970 Rieschel ..9 1/3 2,169,982 8/1939 Von Manteuffel ..9 H3 2,350,808 6/1944 Peglau 137/83 2,448,649 9/1948 Adams et a1 1 37/6252 2,752,945 7/1956 Patterson et a1. ....137/625.2 3,282,283 11/1966 Takeda ..91/3

Primary Examiner-Paul E. Maslousky Attorney-Buckhorn, Blore, Klarq uist and Sparkman [5 7] ABSTRACT A jet pipe fluid control having a nozzle which is movable in more than one plane into alignment with any one of a cluster of input openings for a series of fluid passages leading to fluidactuated control valves. The valves control the flow of high pressure fluid to fluid motors which operate various load-handling apparatus of an industrial lift truck. A control handle at the operators station of the truck moves the jet pipe into alignment with the desired opening for remote actuation of a control valve.

24 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUMQIBIZ I 3.670,626

sum 10F 3 '44 34 FIG. 3

WAYNE w. 'BOSTAD NORMAN L. PRI E JOHN E OLS ON C INVENTORS.

BUCK/105W, BLORE, KLAROU/ST & SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a jet pipe control for actuating valves, switches, motors or other elements to be controlled by the velocity pressure of a fluid.

2. Description of the Prior Art The use of velocity pressure of a fluid jet as a hydraulic amplifier or relay device to actuate valves or other controls for motors is well known. One known type of fluid jet control device employs a stationary nozzle from which the fluid jet is deflected into one of several fluid passages by one or more streams of control fluid acting on the primary fluid jet. Such a system is shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,139,895 to Comparin. This system is complicated, however, by the need for a separate mechanical, electrical or fluid system to control the deflection of the fluid jet. Such a system also limits the permissible arrangement of outlet ports with respect to the stationary jet nozzle because of limitations on the degree and direction of deflection of the fluid jet.

Another known type of fluid jet control is the jet pipe which utilizes a movable jet nozzle. The noule is moved into alignment with one of several input ports by mechanical, electrical or hydraulic means. Prior known jet pipe devices have been limited in the number of ports and controls which they could serve by the inability of the jet pipe to move in more than one plane and through any great distance. As a result, their use has been limited to the control of only a single valve, switch or other controlled element. A prior jet pipe control is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,904,057 to Callendar et al.

Prior jet pipe devices commonly have been positioned in close association with the elements to be controlled, with the jet pipe usually being moved remotely by complex electrical, mechanical or hydraulic means or with the controlled elements being positioned with the jet pipe near the operators controls. Such arrangements have required the operator to look at the controls to initiate a function and have been lacking in their ability to provide the operator with a feel of control. Such arrangements when used in industrial vehicles, where space is usually limited, have raised problems in the location of the jet pipe controls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, deficiencies of the prior art are overcome by providing a jet pipe fluid control wherein a single jet pipe can direct a fluid jet into any one of many input passages clustered about the jet pipe to control the actuation of several different control elements and therefore several different functions. The jet pipe device of the invention can also proportion flow between two passages to initiate several functions simultaneously. The foregoing is accomplished by mounting the jet pipe for universal movement and clustering the input ports of the multiple fluid passages in any desired pattern and so that their axes lie in several different planes.

A further aspect of the invention is the elimination of separate mechanical, electrical or fluid systems for moving the jet pipe. Instead the jet pipe is connected directly to a manual control handle at the operators station. The valves or other elements to be controlled and their associated usually bulky connections thus can be positioned at a convenient location remote from the jet pipe, giving versatility to the positioning of such elements. This feature is particularly important in the use of jet pipe controls in industrial vehicles such as lift trucks where space is limited.

In another aspect of the invention the jet pipe or its control lever is restricted in its movement by an associated guide member so that the operator can feel the positioning of the jet pipe without looking at the control. This enables the operator of a vehicle with jet pipe controls to use his eyes in steering and observing other operations of the vehicle.

In one important application of the invention, a single low pressure fluid jet pipe control is manually movable at the operators station to control both the lift and the tilt functions of an industrial lift truck by actuating appropriate control valves in a high pressure fluid circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a lift truck showing schematically a jet pipe fluid amplifier system in accordance with the present invention used to control the tilt and lift functions of the truck;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of one embodiment of a jet pipe fluid control used in the system of FIG. 1 and showing schematically portions of the control circuit and controlled elements of the system;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2 on the same scale as FIG. 2;'

FIG. 4 is a view partly in section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 on the same scale as FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 77 of FIG. 6 on the same scale as FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing a modified guide for the jet pipe in accordance with the: invention;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a modified grouping of input ports for receiving a jet of fluid from a single jet pipe, such view being similar to the view of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate schematically embodiments of various elements which may be actuated with the jet pipes of FIGS. 2 and 6 in addition to the elements specifically shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION General Arrangement The jet pipe control of the present invention has particular utility in its application to load-handling vehicles. For example, a single jet pipe control can be used to control the-operation of the tilt and lift functions of the lift truck 10 shown in FIG. 1. Also such a control can be used, for example, to control the operation of a hydraulic clamp and side shift attachment. Other applications not limited to vehicles and too numerous to mention will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. It is to be understood that although the principles of the invention are described with reference to its application in an industrial lift truck, the invention is not to be so limited, it being intended to protect the control without regard to its innumerable applications.

With reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, lift truck 10 has an operator's station 12 including seat 13, steering wheel 14 and manual controls indicated generally at 15. The lift truck has the usual upright mast 16 mounted at its forward end with a load apron 17 carrying load-lifting forks l8 movable vertically on the mast by an extensible hydraulic powered cylinder 19 and associated reeving 20. The mast can be tilted forwardly and rearwardly by another hydraulic cylinder 21.

Lift cylinder 19 and tilt cylinder 21 are illustrated schematically in conjunction with their hydraulic circuitry in both FIGS. 1 and 2. These cylinders are connected at their opposite ends in a relatively high pressure hydraulic circuit 23 in.- dicated in solid lines. The circuit includes control means for controlling the flow of pressure fluid to the opposite ends of the double-acting tilt and lift cylinders. Such control means in cludes a first spool valve 25 for controlling the extension and retraction of lift cylinder 19 and a second control valve 27 for controlling the extension and retraction of tilt cylinder 21. Each such valve is spring-centered to a neutral position by a pair of springs 29, 30 at its opposite ends to cut off flow to the lift and tilt cylinders. The valves are actuated by the velocity pressure of fluid flowing in a relatively low pressure fluid circuit indicated generally at 32 by dashed lines in FIGS. 1 and 2. The fluid passage means of the low pressure circuit includes a first pair of fluid passages 34, 35 leading to the opposite ends of lift control valve 25 and a second pair of fluid passages 37, 38 leading to the opposite ends of the tilt control valve 27. In the illustrated system, a first low pressure pump 40 supplies pressure fluid to low pressure circuit 32, and a second pump 42 supplies pressure fluid to high pressure circuit 23. A flow divider 43 in circuit 23 divides fluid flow between valves 25 and 27. However, it will be apparent that a single pump could be provided with suitable associated hydraulic components to supply pressure fluid to both circuits.

The first and second pair of passages to the valves in low pressure circuit 23 terminate at their opposite ends at a cluster of four inlet input ports or openings indicated generally at 44 in FIG. 2. The ports are provided in an end wall 46 of a jet pipe chamber 48 defined by a housing 50 for a fluid jet-producing means comprising a jet pipe 52. Housing 50 also houses a second jet pipe 56 for controlling other functions of the lift truck in the same manner that jet pipe 52 controls the lift and tilt functions. Accordingly, only the control for the lift and tilt functions will be described as illustrative of the general principles of operation of both jet pipes. Both jet pipes are formed as outer end extensions of shafts 58, 60 of manually operated control handles 62, 64.

FIG. 2 Embodiment In the FIG. 2 embodiment jet pipe housing 50 is mounted within an upwardly extending cowling portion 66 of the lift truck at the operators station, with a wall of the cowling providing a control panel 67.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, jet pipe 52 is mounted for limited universal movement in a ball and socket type universal mounting provided by an enlarged spherical portion 69 of the jet pipe and an annular housing insert member 70 which together define an endwall of chamber 48. Jet pipe 52 is mounted with its nozzle portion 72 defining jet orifice 73 directed toward the generally concave surface 46 containing input ports 44.

The arrangement of the group of input ports with respect to the nozzle orifice is shown most clearly in FIG. 3 where the neutral position of the jet pipe orifice 73 is indicated in dashed lines. Input ports 44 include port 34a for fluid passage 34, port 35a for fluid passage 35, port 37a for passage 37 and port 38a for passage 38. The four ports are grouped about the projection of jet orifice 73 in its neutral position, with such ports being radially offset from such neutral position in different directions so that the axes of such ports lie in more than one plane, rather than in linear alignment as is common in the prior art. This cluster arrangement of the input ports about the jet nozzle and the universal mounting of the jet pipe enables the jet pipe to be swung in any direction from its centered neutral position into alignment with any of the four output orifices for direct application of velocity pressure to the selected orifice to actuate the appropriate valve in the desired direction. More importantly, this can be done without first directing the fluid jet into any other port if desired.

However, the foregoing basic arrangement also permits the proportioning of flow between two adjacent input ports for simultaneous operation of two valves or other control elements if desired by modifying the size of or spacing between input ports, or the size of the jet stream, or any combination thereof. This is illustrated, for example, in FIG. 8 with respect to input ports 34b, 35b, 37b, 38b, wherein jet orifice 73b is shown in its centered neutral position and in a position 73b proportioning flow between ports 34b and 37b.

The basic arrangement of clustered ports and universally movable jet pipe also enables a single jet pipe to inject its fluid jet into a large number of ports for operating numerous control devices as shown with respect to the sixteen input ports 98 of FIG. 9 arranged in several parallel, lateral and longitudinal rows about the projection of a jet pipe orifice 100.

Referring again to FIG. 2, jet pipe 52 is spring-centered in its neutral position by a resilient elastomer member 76 which also serves as a fluid seal for chamber 48. Fluid under low pressure is forced by pump 40 through an inlet passage 78 which extends through jet pipe housing 50 and then through the interior of resilient member 76 and into the jet pipe shaft where such passage connects with an axial passage 80 leading into nozzle 72 and to orifice 73. When the jet pipe is in its spring-centered neutral position the fluid jet fluid merely strikes concave end surface 46 and drains from chamber 48 through an outlet passage 82 to sump 84 without entering any of the input ports and therefore without operating any of the control valve means. However, when the orifice of the jet pipe is axially aligned with one of the input openings, the velocity pressure of the fluid jet is transmitted through the associated fluid passage to one of the valves to actuate the same.

The low pressure fluid circuit 32 including pump 40 also supplies jet fluid through inlet 78 to the jet pipe 56 through a continuation 79 of fluid inlet passage 78. Passage 79 leads transversely through the shaft of jet pipe 52, through resilient member 76 and the central portion of housing 50 and into the resilient mounting member and shaft of jet pipe 56. Similarly, jet fluid from the chamber of jet pipe 56 returns to sump 84 through a continuation 83 of outlet passage 82.

Guide means are provided to enable the operator to align the jet pipes with any one of their input openings solely by feel. The guide means of FIG. 2 includes a guide plate 86 attached to control panel 67 and having a pair of guide openings 87, 88 through which control shafts 58 and 60, respectively, extend. As shown most clearly in FIG. 4, guide opening 87 is generally of rosette or clover-leaf shape and has four nodular recesses 89 which determine the limit positions of the circular handle shaft 58 when the nozzle of jet pipe 52 is in alignment with its four input openings. That is, the upper and lower recesses of guide opening 87, as viewed in FIG. 4, determine the alignment of the jet pipe with input openings 34a and 35a of FIG. 3 respectively, and the laterally opposed recesses of the same opening determine the alignment of the same jet pipe with input openings 38a and 37a, respectively. The indentations 90 between recesses 89 require the return of the jet pipe to its centered position when shifting from one input opening to another in order to prevent accidental input into an unintended opening while shifting.

The guide opening 88 for control handle 60 is of cruciform shape and includes four generally rectangular recesses 91 sized to receive the handle shaft 60 of square cross section for jet pipe 56 and arranged to align the nozzle of jet pipe 56 with each of its four input openings. The cruciform shaped guide opening 88 operates in the same manner as the rosette-shaped opening 87 to prevent unintended input into one input opening while shifting between other such openings.

As previously mentioned, it may be desirable in certain instances to proportion velocity pressure between two input ports as, for example, in the event it should be desired to actuate both of valves 25 and 27 at the same time. Under these circumstances, a modified guide plate would be provided having a diamond-shaped guide opening 94, a projection of which is shown in FIG. 8, permitting the shifting of the jet nozzle 73b directly between two adjacent input openings such as ports 34b and 37b into a position 73b without first returning the jet pipe to its neutral position. In the position 73b of the jet pipe in FIG. 8, velocity pressure of the fluid jet would activate valves 25 and 27 of FIG. 2 simultaneously to lower a load on the forks and tilt the mast l6 forward at the same time.

Referring again to FIG. 9, the spacing and arrangement of input openings 98 enables jet pipe orifice 100 to be moved into alignment with any one of the many input openings from its centered neutral position without the jet first entering any of the other input openings. Yet, if desired, jet orifice of FIG. 9 could also proportion flow between adjacent input openings in a row by providing a closer spacing between input openings in each row or alternatively by providing larger openings or a larger jet orifice.

FIG. 6 Embodiment FIG. 6 illustrates a jet pipe control similar to that of FIG. 2 which can be used in exactly the same manner as the control of FIG. 2 to activate both valves 25, 27 of the lift truck fluid circuit 23. The jet pipe control of FIG. 6 differs from that of FIG. 2 only in its details of construction and not in its operation.

In FIG. 6, a pair of jet pipes 110, 112 are mounted within a common housing 114. Because the details of both jet pipes and 112 are identical, only the jet pipe 110 will be described further. Jet pipe 110 includes an enlarged spherical portion 115 mounted for universal movement within a complementary socket portion of cylindrical inserts 116, 118 of the jet pipe housing. As in the FIG. 2 embodiment, jet pipe 110 forms an outer extension of the shaft or operating lever 120 of a manual control handle 122 which can be mounted at the operators station of the lift truck of FIG. 1 in the same manner as theFIG. 2 controls if desired.

Low pressure fluid is admitted to jet pipe 110 through an inlet passage 124 which passes transversely through the spherical portion 115 of the jet pipe 110 and there intersects with an axial passage 126 leading to orifice 127 of the jet pipe. Jet orifice 127 lies within a fluid chamber having a slightly concave end surface 128 provided with a cluster of input openings indicated generally at 130 which may be arranged as described with respect to FIGS. 3, 8 or 9. The input openings form the input ends of fluid passages 132 leading to control means to be actuated by the velocity pressure of the fluid jet stream emitted from the jet pipe. An outlet passage 134 leads from the fluid chamber of jet pipe 110 to a sump (not shown). A second outlet passage 135 is provided to drain to sump any pressure fluid that may escape into a rearward cavity 136 behind spherical portion 1 15 of the jet pipe. However, leakage of fluid into this cavity is held at a minimum by an O-ring seal 138. A second O-ring seal 139 restricts leakage from inlet 124 into the jet pipe chamber and along the interface between the cylindrical insert 1 l6 and jet pipe housing 114.

A continuation 140 of inlet passage 124 leads through housing 114 into jet pipe 112. Similarly, a continuation 142 of outlet 134 drains fluid from the fluid chamber of jet pipe 112 back to sump.

Jet pipe 110 is spring-centered in its neutral position by a coil spring 144 surrounding control shaft 120 within a cavity 145 defined by housing 114 and cowling plate 146. An elastomer boot 148 forms a seal between plate 146 and jet housing 114. The boot also surrounds and is in pressing contact against the control shafts 120 of jet pipes 110, 112 to prevent leakage of pressure fluid along the control shafts.

A further difference between the jet pipe control of FIG. 6 and that of FIG. 2 is the incorporation of the jet pipe guide means in the control of FIG. 6 as part of the jet pipe housing. In the FIG. 6 control, cylindrical housing insert 116 has interior sidewalls 150 defining the chamber within which the nozzle portion of jet pipe 1 10 resides. These walls also serve as guide surfaces for the jet pipe to enable alignment of the jet orifice 127 with its various input openings by feel. Referring to FIG. 7, the walls 150 of housing insert 116 have four nodular recesses 152 so as to define a cloverleaf shape similar to that of guide opening 87 in guide plate 86 of FIG. 4. This, of course, assumes that jet pipe 1 10 has four input openings 34c, 35c, 37c, 38c arranged in end surface 128 in the same manner as input openings 34a, 35a, 37a 38a for jet pipe 52 in FIG. 2. The jet pipe guide of FIG. 7 built into the housing serves the same function as the guide plate 86 of FIG. 4, and enables the operator to align the jet pipe with any one of the input openings without looking at the control and without directing fluid into an unintended input opening when shifting the jet pipe. The housing guide could also be provided in the shape of a cruciform corresponding to the cruciform shape guide opening 88 of FIG. 4, particularly if the nozzle portion of the jet pipe were of rectangular cross section. Alternatively, the walls of the jet pipe housing could define a diamond-shaped recess like that shown in FIG. 8 with similarly proportioned and arranged input openings to enable proportioning of the jet stream between two adjacent input openings, as previously described.

In the FIG. 2 embodiment, the velocity pressure of fluid at relatively low pressure acts as a pilot directly on the opposite ends of valves 25 and 27 to actuate the same in the desired direction. Alternatively, the velocity pressure from a jet pipe could be applied as a pilot against springs 161, 163 of a valve to modulate the operation of the valve, as shown in FIG. 10. The velocity pressure would be transmitted to the springs through fluid passages 162, 164 operatively connected to a jet pipe such as one of those shown in FIGS. 2 or 6.

The system of FIG. 2 utilizes the jet pipe 52 as an amplifier control or hydraulic relay by using the velocity pressure of a fluid at relatively low pressure to control the flow of fluid in a high pressure circuit through valves 25 and 27. However, the same jet pipe could be used as a direct control to operate a fluid motor such as the hydraulic cylinder 166 of FIG. 11 by connecting the jet pipe directly to the opposite ends of such cylinder by fluid passages 168, 170.

OPERATION The operation of the jet pipe control will be described with respect to the FIG. 2 embodiment as installed in the lift truck of FIG. 1. With the control handles 62, 64 in their self-centered neutral positions, jet fluid from pump 40 flows through inlet 78 to the jet pipes and then into fluid chambers 48 without entering the input openings of any of the passages and is returned to sump through outlet passage 82. Thus valves 25 and 27 remain in their spring-centered neutral positions as shown. In such positions lift cylinder 19 and tilt cylinder 21 remain deactivated.

When the operator shifts operating lever 62 into the uppermost recess of guide opening 87 of FIG. 4, jet orifice 73 shifts into alignment with lowermost input opening 35a of FIG. 3 to direct a fluid jet into passage 35, which transmits the velocity pressure of the fluid to the right-hand end of lift valve 25 of FIG. 2, shifting such valve to its extreme left-hand position. In such position, valve 25 permits fluid :at high pressure to flow from pump 42 to the left-hand end of lift cylinder 19 to extend such cylinder and thereby elevate the load forks l8 and any load thereon. By returning the control lever of the jet pipe to its neutral position, the load can be held at any elevation.

By shifting lever 62 vertically downwardly so that its shaft 58 is received in the lower recess 89a of guide opening 87, the jet pipe nozzle is aligned with the uppermost input opening 34a, whereby velocity pressure of the jet is transmitted through passage 34 to the left-hand end of lift valve 25, shifting such valve to the right. In this valve position, fluid at high pressure flows to the opposite end of lift cylinder 19 to lower the forks and load thereon.

By releasing the operating lever 62., the control will return by itself to its spring-centered neutral position through the urging of resilient plug 76.

By shifting lever 58 to the left in FIG. 4 so that the shaft is received in the left-hand recess 89b of guide opening 87, the jet orifice is aligned with input opening 37a to transmit pressure fluid through passage 37 to the left-hand end of tilt valve 27. The velocity pressure of the fluid shifts such valve to its extreme right-hand position, permitting high pressure fluid to flow to the left-hand end of tilt cylinder 21 in FIG. 2 to extend the cylinder and tilt the mast 16 forwardly.

By shifting control lever 62 horizontally to the right, the operator aligns the jet nozzle with input opening 38a to transmit fluid through passage 38 to the right-hand end of valve 27 to shift the valve to its extreme left-hand position in FIG. 2.

This causes high pressure fluid to retract tilt cylinder 21 and thereby tilt the mast 16 rearwardly.

Operation of the FIG. 6 embodiment as applied to the hydraulic system of FIG. 2 would operate in the same manner as described above.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the use of the hand-controlled jet pipe described permits direct operator control of several lift truck functions with a single jet pipe and single control lever. The manual control with associated guide also permits the operator to shift the jet pipe into alignment with a desired input opening without ever looking at the control. The direct manual movement of the jet pipe eliminates the costly, complex mechanical, hydraulic or electrical systems commonly used to control the movement of jet pipes in the past.

The universal movement of the jet pipe has utility even though there may be only two input openings by permitting flow to be proportioned between the openings, directed entirely into one opening, or entirely cut off from both openings. Furthermore, with the neutral position of the jet orifice being offset laterally from the alignment of the input openings, at fluid jet can be directed into either opening without first entering the other opening. This feature is illustrated in FIG. 9 wherein the nozzle 100 could be moved to any one of the input openings in a single row without first activating any of the other openings in such row, or alternatively the nozzle could be proportioned between adjacent openings in a row if desired.

Having illustrated and described several illustrative embodiments of the invention, numerous other modifications in arrangement and detail will undoubtedly occur to persons skilled in the art. The embodiments disclosed are intended to be illustrative of the principles of the invention and not limitations on the scope thereof, it being intended to cover all embodiments coming within the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. A jet pipe fluid control comprising:

means defining a series of at least three control signal openings leading to means to be controlled, the axes of said openings being arranged so as to lie in more than one plane,

fluid jet-producing means including a fluid inlet means for connection with a source of pressure fluid, jet orifice means, and internal passage means interconnecting said inlet means and said orifice means,

means mounting said jet-producing means for at least bidirectional pivoting movement and so as to direct a fluid jet through said jet orifice means and selectively into alignment with each one of said series of openings,

and means operatively connected to said jet-producing means for selectively and at will moving said jet-producing means into alignment with any one of said openings at a time, said jet orifice means being spaced from said control signal openings when aligned therewith.

2. A control according to claim 1 including means determining a neutral position of said orifice means, said position being out of alignment with all said control signal openings in a direction offset laterally from the alignment of at least two of said openings.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means to be controlled is positioned at a location remote from said jetproducing means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means operatively connected to said jet-producing means for moving said jet-producing means comprises a manually operable control handle means.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 including guide means limiting movement of said jet-producing means and for guiding the movement of said jet producing means into alignment with said openings.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 including means biasing said jet-producing means in a neutral position wherein a fluid jet emitted from said orifice means avoids said control signal openings.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a housing defining a cavity receiving said orifice means and defining a wall containing said control signal openings, said fluid inlet means leading through said housing to said internal passage means of said jet-producing means from said source of pres sure fluid, exhaust fluid outlet passage means leading from said cavity, means biasing said jet-producing means to a neutral position wherein said orifice means is out of alignment with said control signal openings, and fluid-sealing means associated with said housing for preventing leakage of fluid from said housing.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means biasing said jet-producing means and said fluid-sealing means comprise a unitary resilient means within said housing.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said fluid inlet means extends into communication with said jet-producing means through said resilient means.

10. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said mounting means is mounted within said housing and mounts said jetproducing means for universal movement.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said universal mounting means comprises a ball-and-socket type mounting with the ball portion of said mounting comprising an integral part of said jet-producing means, said fluid inlet means extending into communication with said internal passage means of said jet-producing means through said ball portion.

12. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said control signal openings are sized and spaced relative to said orifice means and said jet-producing means is movable in a manner so that said orifice means can direct a fluid jet into at least two of said control signal openings at the same time.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 including guide means permitting the alignment of said orifice means with any one of said openings at a time and also permitting the alignment of said orifice between any two adjacent openings.

14. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said housing further defines walls of said cavity providing guide means for limiting the movement of said jet-producing means and determining the alignment of said orifice means with said control signal openings.

15. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said jet-producing means comprises an elongate jet pipe extending into said housing and terminating within said cavity at said orifice means, said means operatively connected to said jet-producing means comprising a jet pipe moving means, said moving means comprising a manually movable control shaft extension of said jet pipe outwardly of said housing.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 including guide means for guiding said orifice means into alignment with said control signal openings, said guide means being positioned outwardly of said housing and in surrounding relation to said control shaft to limit movement of said shaft.

17. Apparatus according to claim 1 including guide means permitting the alignment of said orifice means with any one of said openings at a time and preventing the alignment of said orifice means between two adjacent said openings.

18. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said jet-producing means comprises an elongate jet pipe with said orifice means at one end thereof, the other end of said jet pipe comprising a manually operable control shaft extension of said pipe for moving said orifice means into alignment with said control signal openings.

19. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means to be controlled includes at least two control valve means, said control signal openings leading into separate fluid passages connected to said two control valve means.

20. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said orifice means comprises a single orifice and said means to be controlled includes at least two controlled means, at least two of said control signal openings being sized and spaced in a manner so that said orifice can be positioned between said two openings and thereby direct a single fluid jet into both of said two openings at the same time, said two openings being connected one to each of said two controlled means, whereby said orifice means can be used to operate both of said controlled means at the same time.

21. Apparatus according to claim 1 including at least two fluid motor means, each motor means operating a different load-handling means,

a source of high pressure fluid for operating said fluid motor means,

said means to be controlled comprising at least two pilot fluid actuated valve means, one controlling the flow of high pressure fluid to each of said fluid motor means,

said at least three control signal openings comprising four said openings, fluid passage means including first and second fluid passages leading from two of said control signal openings to opposite ends of one of said valve means and third and fourth fluid passages leading from another two of said control signal openings to opposite ends of the other of said valve means, i

and said source of pressure fluid comprising a source of low pressure fluid supplying said jet-producing means,

whereby said fluid jet-producing means emits a jet of low pressure fluid which controls the operation of said two fluid motor means independently of one another.

22. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said jet-producing means is mounted at a control station remote from said means to be controlled and said means operatively connected to said jet-producing means includes means for manually selectively moving said jet-producing means and thereby said orifice means into alignment with at least one of said control signal openings at a time.

23. A jet pipe fluid control comprising:

means to be controlled,

fluid passage means leading to said means to be controlled including fluid input openings positioned near one another and opening in the same general direction,

fluid jetproducing means having a jet orifice means directed generally toward said input openings, at least two load-handling means, said means to be controlled comprising at least two control valves, one for controlling the flow of pressure fluid to each of said load-handling means for operating the same,

said fluid passage means including a first pair of fluid passages connecting said jet-producing means to opposite sides of one of said control valve means for permitting and interrupting fluid flow to one of said load-handling means,

a second pair of fluid passage means connected to opposite sides of the other of said control valve means for admitting and interrupting fluid fllow to the other of said load-handling means,

said first and second pair of fluid passages including four input openings grouped together and directed generally toward said jet-producing means,

said jet-producing means including a single jet-producing orifice directed toward the group of said input openings,

means mounting said jet-producing means for movement in more than one plane to enable alignment of said orifice with each of said openings without first aligning said orifice with any of the other of said openings, whereby a fluid jet from single orifice can control the operation of both of said control valve means and therefore both of said load-handling means independently of one another.

24. A jet pipe fluid control comprising:

means defining a closed fluid chamber having a frontal wall portion defining at least three fluid jet control signal input ports arranged in a cluster so that their axes lie in at least two planes, each of said ports controlling a difierent function to be performed,

jet pipe means having a nozde portion extending into said chamber with a fluid jet-producing orifice means directed toward said frontal wall portion, said orifice means opening into said chamber and being spaced from said frontal wall portion, a fluid inlet port in said jet pipe means rearwardly of said chamber and adapted for communication with a source of pressure fluid,

internal passage means within said jet pipe means intercon necting said inlet port and said orifice means,

an exhaust fluid outlet port leading from said fluid chamber,

means mounting said jet pipe means rearwardly of said chamber for universal pivoting movement whereby said jet-producing orifice means can be aligned with any one of said fluid signal input ports,

means biasing said jet pipe means to a centered neutral position wherein said jet-producing orifice means is out of alignment with all said signal input ports,

and manually operable control handle means extending as a rearward continuation of said jet pipe means for selectively and at will pivoting said jet pipe means and thereby aligning said orifice means with any selected one of said signal input ports. 

1. A jet pipe fluid control comprising: means defining a series of at least three control signal openings leading to means to be controlled, the axes of said openings being arranged so as to lie in more than one plane, fluid jet-producing means including a fluid inlet means for connection with a source of pressure fluid, jet orifice means, and internal passage means interconnecting said inlet means and said orifice means, means mounting said jet-producing means for at least bidirectional pivoting movement and so as to direct a fluid jet through said jet orifice means and selectively into alignment with each one of said series of openings, and means operatively connected to said jet-producing means for selectively and at will moving said jet-producing means into alignment with any one of said openings at a time, said jet orifice means being spaced from said control signal openings when aligned therewith.
 2. A control according to claim 1 including means determining a neutral position of said orifice means, said position being out of alignment with all said control signal openings in a direction offset laterally from the alignment of at least two of said openings.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means to be controlled is positioned at a location remote from said jet-producing means.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means operatively connected to said jet-producing means for moving said jet-producing means comprises a manually operable control handle means.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 1 including guide means limiting movement of said jet-producing means and for guiding the movement of said jet producing means into alignment with said openings.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 including means biasing said jet-producing means in a neutral position wherein a fluid jet emitted from said orifice means avoids said control signal openings.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a housing defining a cavity receiving said orifice means and defining a wall containing said control signal openings, said fluid inlet means leading through said housing to said internal passage means of said jet-producing means from said source of pressure fluid, exhaust fluid outlet passage means leading from said cavity, means biasing said jet-producing means to a neutral position wherein said orifice means is out of alignment with said control signal openings, and fluid-sealing means associated with said housing for preventing leakage of fluid from said housing.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said means biasing said jet-producing means and said fluid-sealing means comprise a unitary resilient means within said housing.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said fluid inlet means extends into communication with said jet-producing means through said resilient means.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said mounting means is mounted within said housing and mounts said jet-producing means for universal movement.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said universal mounting means comprises a ball-and-socket type mounting with the ball portion of said mounting comprising an integral part of said jet-producing means, said fluid inlet means extending into communication with said internal passage means of said jet-producing means through said ball portion.
 12. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said control signal openings are sized and spaced relative to said orifice means and said jet-producing means is movable in a manner so that said Orifice means can direct a fluid jet into at least two of said control signal openings at the same time.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 12 including guide means permitting the alignment of said orifice means with any one of said openings at a time and also permitting the alignment of said orifice between any two adjacent openings.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said housing further defines walls of said cavity providing guide means for limiting the movement of said jet-producing means and determining the alignment of said orifice means with said control signal openings.
 15. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said jet-producing means comprises an elongate jet pipe extending into said housing and terminating within said cavity at said orifice means, said means operatively connected to said jet-producing means comprising a jet pipe moving means, said moving means comprising a manually movable control shaft extension of said jet pipe outwardly of said housing.
 16. Apparatus according to claim 15 including guide means for guiding said orifice means into alignment with said control signal openings, said guide means being positioned outwardly of said housing and in surrounding relation to said control shaft to limit movement of said shaft.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 1 including guide means permitting the alignment of said orifice means with any one of said openings at a time and preventing the alignment of said orifice means between two adjacent said openings.
 18. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said jet-producing means comprises an elongate jet pipe with said orifice means at one end thereof, the other end of said jet pipe comprising a manually operable control shaft extension of said pipe for moving said orifice means into alignment with said control signal openings.
 19. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means to be controlled includes at least two control valve means, said control signal openings leading into separate fluid passages connected to said two control valve means.
 20. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said orifice means comprises a single orifice and said means to be controlled includes at least two controlled means, at least two of said control signal openings being sized and spaced in a manner so that said orifice can be positioned between said two openings and thereby direct a single fluid jet into both of said two openings at the same time, said two openings being connected one to each of said two controlled means, whereby said orifice means can be used to operate both of said controlled means at the same time.
 21. Apparatus according to claim 1 including at least two fluid motor means, each motor means operating a different load-handling means, a source of high pressure fluid for operating said fluid motor means, said means to be controlled comprising at least two pilot fluid-actuated valve means, one controlling the flow of high pressure fluid to each of said fluid motor means, said at least three control signal openings comprising four said openings, fluid passage means including first and second fluid passages leading from two of said control signal openings to opposite ends of one of said valve means and third and fourth fluid passages leading from another two of said control signal openings to opposite ends of the other of said valve means, and said source of pressure fluid comprising a source of low pressure fluid supplying said jet-producing means, whereby said fluid jet-producing means emits a jet of low pressure fluid which controls the operation of said two fluid motor means independently of one another.
 22. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said jet-producing means is mounted at a control station remote from said means to be controlled and said means operatively connected to said jet-producing means includes means for manually selectively moving said jet-producing means and thereby said orifice means into alignment with at least One of said control signal openings at a time.
 23. A jet pipe fluid control comprising: means to be controlled, fluid passage means leading to said means to be controlled including fluid input openings positioned near one another and opening in the same general direction, fluid jet-producing means having a jet orifice means directed generally toward said input openings, at least two load-handling means, said means to be controlled comprising at least two control valves, one for controlling the flow of pressure fluid to each of said load-handling means for operating the same, said fluid passage means including a first pair of fluid passages connecting said jet-producing means to opposite sides of one of said control valve means for permitting and interrupting fluid flow to one of said load-handling means, a second pair of fluid passage means connected to opposite sides of the other of said control valve means for admitting and interrupting fluid flow to the other of said load-handling means, said first and second pair of fluid passages including four input openings grouped together and directed generally toward said jet-producing means, said jet-producing means including a single jet-producing orifice directed toward the group of said input openings, means mounting said jet-producing means for movement in more than one plane to enable alignment of said orifice with each of said openings without first aligning said orifice with any of the other of said openings, whereby a fluid jet from said single orifice can control the operation of both of said control valve means and therefore both of said load-handling means independently of one another.
 24. A jet pipe fluid control comprising: means defining a closed fluid chamber having a frontal wall portion defining at least three fluid jet control signal input ports arranged in a cluster so that their axes lie in at least two planes, each of said ports controlling a different function to be performed, jet pipe means having a nozzle portion extending into said chamber with a fluid jet-producing orifice means directed toward said frontal wall portion, said orifice means opening into said chamber and being spaced from said frontal wall portion, a fluid inlet port in said jet pipe means rearwardly of said chamber and adapted for communication with a source of pressure fluid, internal passage means within said jet pipe means interconnecting said inlet port and said orifice means, an exhaust fluid outlet port leading from said fluid chamber, means mounting said jet pipe means rearwardly of said chamber for universal pivoting movement whereby said jet-producing orifice means can be aligned with any one of said fluid signal input ports, means biasing said jet pipe means to a centered neutral position wherein said jet-producing orifice means is out of alignment with all said signal input ports, and manually operable control handle means extending as a rearward continuation of said jet pipe means for selectively and at will pivoting said jet pipe means and thereby aligning said orifice means with any selected one of said signal input ports. 